Prawn Balchao (Goan Pickle-Style Hot Prawns) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 kg small to medium-sized prawns, uncooked (cleaned and de-veined)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large onions, chopped fine
3 large tomatoes, chopped fine
2 sprigs curry leaves
2 tablespoons garlic paste
1 tablespoon ginger paste
10 dried red chilies
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
1 tablespoon cumin seed
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 inches cinnamon sticks
10 cloves
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
salt

Preparation

Put the prawns in a large bowl and sprinkle salt on them. Keep aside.
Roast the chillies, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, peppercorns, turmeric, cloves and cinnamon till they begin to release their aroma.
Remove from heat and cool.
Grind the ginger, garlic and roasted spices into a smooth paste using the vinegar.
Heat the oil on a medium flame in a wok-style pan to medium-high heat.
Add the prawns and stir fry till opaque. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
In the same pan, fry the onions till light brown. Add the tomato and curry leaves and fry until the tomatoes are soft.
Now add the spice-vinegar paste, sugar and salt to taste and fry till the oil begins to separate.
Add the prawns to this sauce, mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Serve with plain boiled rice and/or naan.